SALT LAKE CITY — Keyonte George and the Utah Jazz have agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million rookie scale contract extension that is fully guaranteed, securing the guard as a central piece of the franchise's rebuilding effort.
The deal comes after an extension was considered unlikely at the beginning of the offseason, but the two sides found common ground to get it done. George struggled through his first two NBA seasons before breaking out last season, when he averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists per game while posting a .609 true shooting percentage.
That dramatic improvement in efficiency repositioned George as a core piece for Utah. The leap in scoring, playmaking and shooting efficiency changed his trajectory after a difficult start to his career and established him as a foundational player for the Jazz moving forward.
Utah added to its backcourt this offseason with the selection of Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick in the draft. With George now locked in on a fully guaranteed five-year extension, the Jazz have paired their breakout guard with another high-end young prospect as they continue the rebuild.